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Tutorial #3 - Canned Roughing and Finishing Toolpaths, Grooving on an Angle .................. 109
TUTORIAL #2
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TUTORIAL #21
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TUTORIAL #21
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GEOMETRY CREATION
STEP 2: CREATE A LINE KNOWING AN ENDPOINT, THE ANGLE AND THE LENGTH
In this step you will learn how to create a line knowing an endpoint, the angle and the length. We will use this line to create
other parallel lines from.
Step Preview:
Endpoint.
as shown.
NOTE: When working with the +D, +Z plane, enter in the coordinates in this order (D,Z).
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Using the mouse scroll wheel, roll the wheel backwards to zoom out and see the Grid and the line we just
created as shown in Figure: 2.1.1.
Figure: 2.1.1
NOTE: During the geometry creation of this tutorial, if you make a mistake you can undo the last step using the
Undo icon.
You can undo as many steps as needed. If you delete or undo a step by mistake, just use the
Redo icon.
To delete unwanted geometry, select it first and then press Delete from the keyboard.
Step Preview:
Create
Line.
Parallel.
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[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point to the right of the selected line.
NOTE: The color of the geometry is cyan which means that the entity is "live" and you can still change the line
parameters if needed.
Enter the Distance
NOTE: To continue using the same command you can either select the Apply button
or press Enter. To
exit the command you can either start a new command or select the OK button.
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point to the left of the selected line.
Type the Distance
0.375" (Enter).
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point left of the selected line.
Type the Distance
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0.75" (Enter).
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[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point left of the selected line.
Type the Distance
1.0" (Enter).
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point left of the selected line.
Type the Distance
1.5 (Enter).
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point left of the selected line.
Type the Distance
2.0 (Enter).
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point left of the selected line.
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2.15" (Enter).
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point left of the selected line.
Type the Distance
2.625" (Enter).
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point right of the selected line.
Type the Distance
2.85" (Enter).
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Step Preview:
Endpoint.
NOTE: When you enter in a D value, you have to enter in the overall Diameter value from the drawing, instead
of the radius as the length of the line.
Select the Apply button to continue.
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[Specify the first endpoint]: Move the cursor close to the location of Point C and click once at Point C as shown.
[Specify the second endpoint] Click on a location close to Point D as shown.
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Select the Apply button to remain in the command for the next step.
The part should appear as shown in Figure: 4.1.1.
Figure: 4.1.1
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Step Preview:
NOTE: You should already be in the Create Line Endpoint command from the previous step, if you are not
select the Create Line Endpoint command
Enter the Length
NOTE: Make sure that your mouse cursor changes to the intersection visual cue.
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as shown.
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as shown.
as shown.
NOTE: You can also enter Angular measurements with a negative (-) amount. Positive 300 can also be
entered as -60.
[Specify the first endpoint] Select Intersection C as shown.
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Step Preview:
Trim/Break/Extend.
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NOTE: Mastercam's auto-preview feature displays the results of the selected function as you move the mouse
over the final entity selection. A solid line represents what will be created. A dashed line represents what will
be removed.
The part should appear as shown in Figure: 6.1.2.
Figure: 6.1.2
NOTE: When selecting the Lines be sure to select the side of the line that you wish to Keep.
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Delete Entities.
[Select entities] Select Entity A, Entity B and Entity C as shown.
Save As.
File name: "Your Name_2".
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PART SETUP:
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PART SETUP:
SETUP SHEET:
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NOTE: For the purpose of this tutorial, we will be using the Default lathe machine.
To display the Operations Manager press Alt + O.
Use the Fit icon to fit the drawing to the screen.
Machine type
Lathe.
Default.
Select the plus sign in front of Properties in the Toolpaths Manager to expand the Toolpaths Group Properties.
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Choose the Properties button to set up the stock for the Left Spindle.
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Define the stock by setting the stock geometry to Cylinder and entering the stock dimensions. Ensure you
enable use margins and enter in the values as shown in Figure: 8.0.2.
Figure: 8.0.2
NOTE: The stock model that you create can be displayed with the part geometry when viewing the file or the
toolpaths, during backplot, or while verifying toolpaths. You can create stock on the left or right spindle.
Select the OK button to exit the Stock Setup page.
Ensure that Left spindle is selected and then select the Properties button in the chuck jaws area as shown.
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Make the necessary changes to define the chuck size, the clamping method and the stock position. Ensure that
you choose the clamping method OD#1 as shown.
Select the Top view from the view toolbar to see the stock.
Use the Fit icon to fit the drawing to the screen.
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Toolpath Preview:
Toolpaths
Face.
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Select the OD Rough Right -80 Degree Tool and enter in the comment as shown.
NOTE: The Feed Rate and the Spindle Speeds are based on the Mastercam Tool Definitions. They can be
changed at any time, based on the material that you are going to machine.
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Select the Face Parameters tab and make all of the necessary changes as shown.
Once you have entered in all of the information select the OK button to exit the Face Properties.
Entry Amount sets the height at which the tool rapids to or from the part.
Rough Stepover sets the roughing pass value.
Finish Stepover sets the finish pass value.
Overcut Amount determines how far past the center of the part the tool will cut.
Retract Amount determines the distance the tool moves away from the face of the part before it moves to the
start of the next cut.
Stock to Leave sets the remaining stock after the tool completes all passes.
Cut away from the center line sets the tool to start cutting closest to the center line and cut away from the
center line at each pass.
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Toolpath Preview:
Toolpaths
Rough.
NOTE: The chaining mode is Partial by default. You will have to select the first entity
and the last entity of the contour.
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NOTE: Make sure that the chaining direction is CCW, otherwise select the Reverse button in the Chaining
dialog box.
Select Entity B as shown.
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Select the Rough Parameters tab and make any necessary changes as shown.
Depth of cut sets the amount of material to be removed during each pass.
Equal Steps sets the Depth of Cut value to the maximum amount of material that the tool can remove at each
pass to ensure equal passes.
Minimum cut depth sets the minimum cut that can be taken per pass.
Stock to leave in X sets the remaining stock in the X axis after the tool completes all passes.
Stock to leave in Y sets the remaining stock in the Y axis after the tool completes all passes.
Entry Amount sets the height at which the tool rapids to or from the part.
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Select the Lead In/Out button and choose the Lead Out tab to extend the end of the contour as shown.
Adjust Contour allows you to extend or shorten the contour by an amount or by adding a line.
Feed Rate allows you to specify a custom feed rate for the Lead In/Out.
Exit Vector allows you to create a tangent arc move or perpendicular move to start the toolpath. You can also
manually define an entry/exit vector or let the system automatically calculate a vector for you.
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Toolpath Preview:
NOTE: You can also use ALT + T to toggle toolpath display on or off. For the remaining tutorials, the toolpath
display will be automatically disabled.
Toolpaths
Finish.
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NOTE: The Feed Rate and Spindle Speed are based on the Mastercam Tool Definition.
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Select the Finish Parameters tab and make all of the necessary changes as shown.
Select the Lead In/Out button, choose the Lead Out tab, and extend the end of the contour by 0.125 as shown.
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Toolpath Preview:
Toolpaths
Groove.
Choose 1 Point when the Grooving Options dialog box opens up as shown.
1 Point allows the user to select points from the graphics area to identify a groove.
2 Points allows you specify a groove by indicating the top corner of the groove and the point in the lower
opposite corner.
3 Lines allows you to select three lines from the graphics screen to define the groove shape.
Chain allows you to chain a more complex shape to define a groove by chaining on-screen geometry.
Multiple Chains allows you to chain multiple grooves by chaining on screen geometry.
Manual Point Selection Allows you to manually select points from the graphics area.
Window Point Selection Allows you to create a window in the graphics area and chains all of the points within
the window.
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Press Enter on your keyboard after you have selected the point.
Select the OD Groove Center Medium tool from the tool list and enter in the comment as shown.
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Select the Groove Shape Parameters tab and make the necessary changes as shown.
Select the Groove Rough Parameters tab and disable the option to Rough the groove as shown.
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Select the Groove Finish Parameters tab and make any necessary changes as shown.
Direction for 1st Pass determines the direction that the tool will finish the groove (CCW - Starting on the right
wall or CW - starting with the left wall.) With the first pass of a finish toolpath; the tool cuts down on one wall of
the groove to the groove floor and then retracts out of the groove. On the second pass, the tool cuts down the
opposite wall of the groove to the groove floor, moves across the groove floor to the point where the first pass
ended.
Retraction Moves sets the retract moves to Rapid moves or with the Feed Rate.
Finish Stepover value sets the maximum amount of material the tool will remove with the finish pass. Allows
you to get a warning if you enter two tools with the same number.
Stock to leave in X sets the remaining stock in the X-axis after the tool completes all finish passes.
Stock to leave in Z sets the remaining stock in the Z-axis after the tool completes all finish passes.
Overlap Distance from 1st corner sets the amount the tool cuts across the floor before retracting out of the
groove.
Overlap between passes sets the amount the tool overlaps the first pass before it retracts.
Wall Backoff % sets how far the tool backs away from the wall of the groove after the first pass before it
retracts.
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Select the Lead In button and change the First pass lead in entry vector to -90 as shown.
Select the Second pass lead in tab and change the entry vector to -90 as shown.
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STEP 13: GROOVE THE PART USING THE SINGLE CHAIN METHOD
In this step we will create another grooving toolpath, this time defining the groove with a chain and selecting the geometry
using the partial chain method.
Toolpath Preview:
Toolpaths
Groove.
Choose Chain when the Grooving Options dialog box opens up.
[Select the last entity] Select Entity B as your last chain as shown.
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Select the OD Groove Center - Medium tool from the tool list and add a comment as shown.
Select the Groove shape parameters tab and enable Use stock for outer boundary as shown.
Use stock for outer boundary when enabled, tells Mastercam to use the stock as the grooves outer boundary.
Parallel to groove angle extends the grooves inner boundary to the stock, parallel to the groove angle.
Tangent to groove walls extends the grooves inner boundary to the stock, tangent to the groove walls.
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Select the Groove rough parameters tab and make any changes as shown.
Cut Direction determines the direction that the tool will rough the groove (positive, negative, bi-directional or
chain).
Stock Clearance determines the point up to which the tool retracts after each pass.
Stock Amount sets the remaining stock left by the previous operation.
Stock to leave in X sets the remaining stock in the X axis after the tool completes all rough passes.
Stock to leave in Z sets the remaining stock in the Z axis after the tool completes all rough passes.
Rough Step sets the amount of material to be removed with each roughing pass. It can be set as a number of
steps, a step amount or as a percentage of the tool width.
Backoff % sets how far the tool backs away from the wall of the groove before it retracts.
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Select the Groove Finish Parameters tab and make any changes as shown.
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Select the Second pass Lead in tab and change the entry vector to -90 as shown.
Toolpath Preview:
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Toolpaths
Drill.
NOTE: The Lathe Drill Parameters dialog box will automatically open, no chaining is needed, because
Mastercam drills along the center line to create the toolpath, the drill depths are specified within the dialog
box.
Select the 0.5" Diameter Center Drill from the tool list and enter in the comment as shown.
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Select the Simple Drill tab, and change the parameters to match the screenshot as shown.
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Toolpath Preview:
Toolpaths
Drill.
Select the 0.5" Drill from the tool list and enter in the comment as shown.
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Select the Simple Drill tab and make the changes as shown.
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Make sure that you Select all operations (signified by the green
check mark on the folder icon).
Make sure that you have the following buttons turned on (they will
appear pushed down) to see the tool and the rapid moves.
Select the Isometric view from the view toolbar to see the stock.
Select the Fit button.
You can adjust the speed of the backplot.
You can step through the Backplot by using the Step forward or Step back buttons.
Select the Play button in the VCR bar.
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TOOLPATH VERIFICATION
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STEP 18: RUN THE POST PROCESSOR TO OBTAIN THE G-CODE FILE
Post Processing refers to the process by which the toolpaths in your Mastercam part files are converted to a format that
can be understood by your machine tools control. A special program reads your Mastercam file and writes the appropriate
NC code.
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In the Post Processing window, make all of the necessary changes as shown to the below.
NC File enabled, allows you to keep the NC file and to assign the same name as the MCX file.
Edit enabled allows you to automatically launch the default editor.
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Select the Red "X" Box in the upper right corner to exit the editor.
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NOTES:
NOTES:
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TUTORIAL #2 QUIZ
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TUTORIAL #2 QUIZ
What does a Drill Toolpath allow you to do and what is needed to create a drill toolpath?
How do you create a grooving toolpath using the width of the tool?
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TUTORIAL #2 QUIZ
INDEX
Numerics
1 Point ............................................................. 84
2 Points ........................................................... 84
2D / 3D Construction ........................................ 5
3 Lines ............................................................. 84
A
Absolute ........................................................ 436
Acceleration Clearance ................................. 276
Adjust Contour ................................................ 35
Advanced Tailstock ....................................... 367
Angled Groove .............................................. 144
Anticipated Pull Off ....................................... 276
Arc Endpoints ................................................ 398
Arc Tangent ................................................... 123
Arc Tangent With Dynamic Tangency ........... 246
Assign Tool Numbers Sequentially .................. 26
Attributes .......................................................... 6
Axis Combination .......................................... 552
Axis Substitution ................................... 455, 565
B
Backplot .......................................................... 40
Break 2 Pieces ............................................... 191
Break Many Pieces ........................................ 498
Breakthrough ................................................ 440
C
Canned Finish Toolpath ................................ 142
Canned Rough Toolpath ............................... 138
C-Axis Contour .............................................. 561
C-Axis Cross Contour ..................................... 532
C-Axis Cross Drill ................... 451, 456, 538, 541
C-Axis Face Contour ...................... 429, 524, 546
C-Axis Face Drill ............................. 442, 553, 557
Center Drill .................................................... 207
Chamfer Entities ........................................... 253
Change Levels ............................................... 393
Change The Construction Plane ............ 394, 489
Change The Main Level ................................. 582
Change the WCS ........................................... 581
Change Tool Color ........................................... 42
Circle Center Point ........................................ 123
Clear Colors ................................................... 407
Clearance Angles ........................................... 421
Color .................................................................. 6
Construction Depth ....................................... 504
Corner Geometry .......................................... 166
Create Line Perpendicular ............................ 117
Create Point Position ............................ 390, 512
Create Polar Lines ........................................... 62
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INDEX
Leftover Material .......................................... 425
Level .................................................................. 6
Line Endpoint .................................................. 19
M
Major Diameter ............................................ 274
Manual Point Selection ................................... 84
Minimum Overlap Angle ................................. 35
Minor Diameter ............................................ 274
MRU Toolbar ..................................................... 2
Multipasses ................................................... 530
Multiple Chains ............................................... 84
O
Open A Solidworks File ................................. 579
Origin ................................................................ 2
Overcut ......................................................... 276
Overcut Amount ............................................. 31
Overlap Amount ............................................. 35
Overlap Between Passes ................................. 87
Override Defaults With Modal Values ............ 26
P
Parallel Lines ................................................... 17
Peck Drilling .................................................. 449
Planes ................................................................ 5
Plunge Cutting ............................................... 421
Plunge Parameters ........................................ 421
Polygon ......................................................... 395
Post Processing ............................................... 43
Program # ....................................................... 26
Q
Quick Finish Toolpath ................................... 205
Quick Mask Toolbar .......................................... 2
Quick Rough Toolpath .................................. 200
Quiz Answers ................................................ 653
R
Rectangle ........................................................ 16
Redo ................................................................ 17
Relief Grooves ............................................... 248
Reorganizing The Toolbars ................................ 4
Retract Amount .............................................. 31
Retract Radius ............................................... 166
Ribbon Bar ........................................................ 2
Right Spindle ................................................. 523
Rotary Axis Control ....................................... 455
Rough And Finish An Inside Diameter .......... 611
Rough Overlap Parameters ............................. 35
Rough Stepover .............................................. 31
Rough Toolpath .............................................. 32
Rounded Distance ......................................... 499
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S
Saving The File ................................................ 23
Scale .................................................................. 2
Second Pass Lead In ........................................ 88
Select A Machine ............................................ 25
Set Up The Stock ............................................. 25
Slice ............................................................... 586
Spin ............................................................... 586
Spline ............................................................ 513
Start Of Cut ................................................... 421
Start Position ................................................ 274
Status Bar .......................................................... 2
Stock Advance ............................................... 365
Stock Flip ....................................................... 282
Stock To Leave ................................................ 31
Stock To Leave In X ................................... 34, 87
Stock To Leave In Y ......................................... 34
Stock To Leave In Z ......................................... 87
Stock Transfer ............................................... 544
T
Thread Angle ................................................. 274
Thread Toolpath ........................................... 272
Tip Comp ....................................................... 560
Toolbar States ................................................... 8
Toolpath Manager ............................................ 8
Toolpath Verification ...................................... 41
Toolpaths/Solid Manager ................................. 2
Trim 1 Entity ................................................... 21
Trim 2 Entities ............................................... 116
Trim Divide ...................................................... 64
Turn Profile ................................................... 584
U
Undo ............................................................... 17
Use Stock For Outer Boundary ....................... 36
Use True Solid ................................................. 42
V
View Port XYZ Axes ........................................... 2
W
Wall Backoff % ................................................ 87
Warn Of Duplicate Tool Numbers ................... 26
Window Point Selection ................................. 84
Work Coordinate System (WCS) ....................... 6
Write Home Position Clearance Moves .......... 26
X
X Tangent Point ............................................. 166
Xform Mirror ................................................. 486
Xform Rotate ........................................ 400, 500
INDEX
Z
Z Depth ............................................................. 5
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INDEX
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X6TRAIN
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